Here is an observation:
I was around during the early days of the "personal
computer" and I mean Altair. Those were the days of the
Heathkit builders. My feeling is that the early Cambrian
period of PC's was driven by the desire to have something
that was not available, the computer at work that was too
expensive to have at home.
I built a kit, SWTP. It didn't do much but I really
enjoyed it. Then, as microprocessors became more powerful
and less expensive, more features and speed became
available.
Then there was WOZ and Steve. I understand that WOZ build
the Apple using the 6502 because he couldn't afford the
Intel brand. But they they made it interesting and
marketable.
This may not be a new idea but, I believe there are
similarities today in robotics to the environment that
brought out the PC. The microcontrollers are becoming more
powerful, and cheaper and there sure a lot of Generous
Energetic Evolutionary Knowledge Seekers around. (Since
that is such a large phrase, maybe I will find a short
acronym for it.)
At any rate, I can FEEL it. It is happening.
You probably heard the latest market predictions,
forecasting a seven fold increase in growth. The
predictions are for a $ 50 billion/yr market in 2010 but
it could be way bigger.
So, do you want to guess what the Next Big Thing will be.
We are looking at it.